United's great European nights

UNITED produced one of their greatest performances against Roma to reach the Champions League semi-finals with a 7-1 win to go through 8-3 on aggregate. Here, is a look at some of United’s greatest European nights.

UNITED produced one of their greatest performances against Roma to reach the Champions League semi-finals with a 7-1 win to go through 8-3 on aggregate. Here, is a look at some of United’s greatest European nights.

MANCHESTER UNITED 10 ANDERLECHT 0 (26/9/56) United’s home debut in Europe at Maine Road. “One of the most perfect exhibitions my side has ever given,” said Matt Busby. Inspired by David Pegg, who set up eight goals including four for Dennis Viollet and a hat-trick for Tommy Taylor.

MANCHESTER UNITED 3 ATHLETIC BILBAO 0 (6/2/57) The first of United’s great comebacks after losing 5-3 in Spain. Viollet, Johnny Berry and, in the final seconds, Taylor squeezed United through before losing to the great Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

MANCHESTER UNITED 4 TOTTENHAM 1 (10/12/63) Trailing 2-0 to the great Tottenham side of Dave Mackay and Co. in the second round of the European Cup Winners’ Cup, United steamrollered the Londoners in the return, David Herd and Bobby Charlton both scoring twice.

BENFICA 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 5 (9/3/66) United’s finest performance on foreign soil. Just one goal to the good from the European Cup second round first leg, they slaughtered the Eagles. George Best scored twice while John Connolly, Paddy Crerand and Charlton completed the rout of the Portuguese champions.

REAL MADRID 3 MANCHESTER UNITED 3 (15/5/68) Defending a 1-0 lead from the first leg, United were on their way out of the European Cup at 3-1 down at half-time. But they fought back to clinch a place in the final with goals from David Sadler and Bill Foulkes’ late header.

MANCHESTER UNITED 4 BENFICA 1 (29/5/68) United became the first English club to be crowned champions of Europe, fittingly at Wembley on a night dominated by Best and Charlton while Denis Law watched from his hospital bed. After 1-1 at full time (Charlton header), Best, Brian Kidd and Charlton again completed an emotional night.

MANCHESTER UNITED 3 BARCELONA 0 (21/3/84) United looked on their way out of the European Cup Winners’ Cup after Diego Maradona’s Spaniards had taken a 2-0 lead in the third round first leg. But England skipper Bryan Robson was inspired, scoring twice and Frank Stapleton getting the other as 58,547 fans roared United through only to lose to Juventus in the semi-finals.

BARCELONA 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (15/5/91) Alex Ferguson guided United to their first European trophy for 23 years in the Rotterdam final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup, Mark Hughes scoring two superb second-half goals which rendered Ronald Koeman’s late free-kick a consolation for the Spaniards.

MANCHESTER UNITED 4 PORTO 0 (5/3/97) “A performance to match Barcelona in 1984,” said chairman Martin Edwards after the previously all-conquering Portuguese were hammered into the ground in the Champions League. David May, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole gave United an overwhelming advantage for the second leg, which finished 0-0, before defeat to eventual champions Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals.

JUVENTUS 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 3 (21/4/99) It all started badly for United as Filippo Inzaghi put Juve in command with an early brace but United, inspired by Roy Keane, fought back. The Irishman nodded home David Beckham’s corner to start the comeback with Dwight Yorke levelling with a diving header. Andy Cole to tapped home the winner to put United in the Champions League final six minutes from time.

BAYERN MUNICH 1 MANCHESTER 2 (26/5/99) With 90 minutes on the clock in the Champions League final at the Nou Camp, all seemed lost as Bayern Munich led 1-0. United had not played well and twice been saved by the woodwork but deep into stoppage time, Teddy Sheringham diverted in a scuffed Ryan Giggs shot to equalise after a corner. With extra time looming, United won another corner and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hooked in a dramatic winner.